December 14, 2015
New Start Date Gives Canadians Nonstop Option to Attend THE PLAYERS Championship
Air Canada’s recently announced nonstop service between Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will begin May 7 instead of May 21, 2016, as originally anticipated.
The new start date provides Canadian tourists a nonstop option to attend one of the First Coast’s marquee events, THE PLAYERS Championship, which begins May 10.
"We are thrilled with this new service and schedule," said Matt Rapp, executive director of THE PLAYERS. "As we continue to grow our national and international fan base, a non-stop flight option from Canada will help give our neighbors to the north an easier way to be a part of history at THE PLAYERS in May as we showcase the very best field in golf on an incredible course."
“Many Canadians love golf almost as much as going to Florida, so we are very pleased to adjust our schedule to accommodate fans attending THE PLAYERS. Beyond this, our new service will make it easier to travel between Toronto and Jacksonville and Northeast Florida year-round, while also giving local residents more travel options, both to visit Canada or connect to our international network,” said Lisa Pierce, Senior Director, U.S. Sales and Market Development at Air Canada.
Dave Reese, president of Florida’s First Coast of Golf, confirmed the sport’s popularity not only in Canada, but in Toronto specifically: “Nonstop service to Toronto, a city in the top five in golf courses per capita in North America, will undoubtedly translate to more Canadians coming to Northeast Florida during the winter months.”
The announcement has also drawn the attention of local convention and visitor bureaus:
“We’re very excited that Air Canada has elected to move up the starting date of service so our Canadian golfers can be here to experience the most fan friendly golf tournament in the world,” Richard Goldman, executive director of the St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors & Convention Bureau said.
“The new Air Canada date and service gives Canadian travelers a chance to enjoy one of the premier golf tournaments in the nation while at the same time experiencing Jacksonville and letting our region show how we create unforgettable experiences for our visitors.” said Paul Astleford, President and CEO of Visit Jacksonville. “We look forward to welcoming thousands of new visitors on Air Canada, and helping them discover a new side of Florida.”
No other changes were made to the flight. The year-round service is currently scheduled for the weekends on a two-cabin Embraer ERJ-175.
The Saturday and Sunday schedule forthe route is:
|
Departing Airport |
Arriving Airport |
Departure Time |
Arrival Time |
Aircraft Type |
|
YYZ |
JAX |
9:20 |
11:40 |
E75 |
|
JAX |
YYZ |
12:15 |
14:55 |
E75 |
“We’re delighted Air Canada was able to be flexible with the launch of this new flight,” Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) CEO Steve Grossman said. “THE PLAYERS Championship gives Canadian visitors an opportunity to see the very best of the First Coast.”
Air Canada does not currently serve Northeast Florida, making them the newest entrant into the market. To book travel on Air Canada, visit www.aircanada.com. To download high resolution photos and logos, visit their media room. For more information about JAA, visit www.flyjacksonville.com.
About the Jacksonville Aviation Authority
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority operates Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) and the city's three general aviation airports - Cecil Airport, Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport (JAXEX) and Herlong Recreational Airport. The Authority, funded through user fees and not local taxes, generates over $2.9 billion annually to the local economy. For more information about the Jacksonville Aviation Authority's airports, please visit www.flyjacksonville.com.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2014 served more than 38 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 63 airports in Canada, 52 in the United States and 86 in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,321 airports in 193 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.
